Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Learn English With Movies


Members of The Effortless English Club have asked me,
"What do I do after I finish the lessons? My speaking is much better, but I want to continue learning. Do you have more lessons?"

Unfortunately, I don't yet-- however, Kristin and I are working on new lessons right now. These lessons use an American movie to teach you real English.

Every scene of the movie has a lesson set that includes: Text of the script, a Vocabulary Lesson, 2 or more Mini-Story Lessons (including some Point of View Lessons), and Audio from the scene. Some scenes also have Commentaries.

By using all the lessons, you understand all of an American movie. Also, you learn a lot of slang & idioms from the movie-- the kind used everyday by Americans.

But you don't have to wait for our lessons. You can use this same method yourself, with any movie. Movies are a great way to learn-- but you must use them correctly.

Most English students don't use movies correctly. They rent a lot of American movies, watch them, return them, and then rent more. They may understand the basic story of each movie, but they don't improve their English.

Here's a better method for learning with movies:

1. Rent or buy ONE movie

2. Watch all of it, with subtitles in your own language

3. Next, watch only one scene of the movie (a scene is usually 2-4 minutes long). Use ENGLISH subtitles.

4. Rewind. Watch the same scene again. This time, pause for every sentence. Write down phrases/words you don't understand.

5. Use your dictionary to learn these new words. Search the internet for strange phrases (probably slang or idioms).

6. Watch the scene again at normal speed-- 2-3 times. Turn the subtitles OFF. Try to hear and understand the new phrases.

7. Watch the scene again-- 2-3 times. Pause after every sentence, then say the sentence yourself. Don't just "say" it. Copy the actor! Try to sound and move exactly like them. Copy their emotion. Copy their face movements. Copy their voice. This will improve your pronunciation.

Using this method, you can probably learn 1-3 scenes per week. Don't go too fast. Learn deeply. Repeat steps 3-7 everyday. If a scene is difficult, you can do this again and again for several days. Its important to learn every scene very deeply.

It may feel slow, but when you finally finish a whole movie, your English is fantastically better! Use this method, it is very powerful.

14 comments:

Unknown said...

Thank you for your suggestion. I will try it. Fighting...

AJ Hoge said...

Jason,

Good luck! And don't fight too much. Try to smile and laugh when you are learning English :) Enjoy it!

Unknown said...

I liked this article very much.
THANKS.

Unknown said...

HOW DO WE TEACH ENGLISH WITH PASSION?

reynaldo bosquê said...

HJ Hoge... I have a suggestion...english subtitles for Alan Watts talking...I think it's awsome...the link
is below

http://youtube.com/watch?v=8aufuwMiKmE

ps: I would like to take english conversation with you by skype? Is it possible?

AJ Hoge said...

Teaching with passion is a matter of having great enthusiasm for your students, the subject, or both. I think it helps if you love doing it-- which I do!

The Alan Watts idea is fantastic. I love Alan Watts. Ive been listening to his podcast (audio of his past talks) and all the talks are amazing. His books, too, are lucid, enlightening, and humorous. I think he is an exceptional spiritual teacher.

Regarding Skype teaching, I'm not doing it right now. I'm currently working with Kristin Dodds on a new set of lessons using a movie. We're creating Mini-Stories and Vocab Lessons to teach every scene of a movie.

Those of you who have my lessons already have a sample of the first two movie lessons.

For excellent Skype tutors, I do recommend LingQ-- I used to be a tutor with them and they are great.

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

Thanks for your explanations.
I am studying english all the time. I love to study it.

reynaldo bosquê said...

AJ,

Thanks for LoingQ recommendation...I'm waiting for your new movies lessons anxiously. You're a great teacher...

Unknown said...

Hello Mr.
I wrote this e-mail because I am desperate with my knowlodge in English, I do not have problem with nervous or confident but I have a problem maybe my fluency so I have problem with ideas in a context, link I do not know but I had read your e-mail twice, I hope an opportunity in this.

Thanks for your motivation

Juanito

Jonathan said...

I must say that altough that you have in my opinion an extremely selling slogan, (a bit negative in my opinion) you are actually coming with some really good advice. Good for any language study actually.

Slucido said...

I find the movie method very interesting and useful. Maybe, with audio books, is the best.

I usually work with TV series, because are shorter an more manageable.

Regarding the article, if you have the movie script, what do you recommend?

Maybe is easy listen the movie without subtitles several times and work aside with the script.

Thank you

liontiger008 said...

Dear sir
i have been using your podcast for the past 2 months.I really appreciate(a great method) your very effective method and yes!,its really working for me! and for others as well.but sir,I read one of your page FAQ ,in which its been given that mp3 players might be useful because the person can listen to your lessons even when are traveling.BUT HERE I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU AN IMPORTANT ISSUE RELATED TO UMPTEEN HEARING LOSS ACROSS VARIOUS COUNTRIES JUST BECAUSE OF USING AN IPOD OR ANY OTHER MP3 PLAYERS NO MATTER WHATS THE QUALITY OF YOUR HEARBUD OR HEADPHONE IS!
i AM WRITNG THIS MAIL BECAUSE I KNOE FROM DEEP DOWN MY HEART THAT YOUR LESSONS WOULD BE FOLLOWED BY 1.MANY HEREAFTER
2.FOR A LONG TIME!! INDEED
3.WITH MANY PEOPLE GROWING IN NUMBER!!!
4.AND EVEN THE PERSONS WOULD USE THESE LESSONS FOR THEIR KIDS IN FUTURE AS WELL!!.THEY MIGHT KEEP YOUR LESSONS AS A SOVEREIGN TO HELP THEIR KIDS AS WELL.BUT.............

I AM AFRAID THEY MIGHT STORE YOUR LESSONS IN AN IPOD OR ANY MP3 PLAYERS AND FOLLOW IT,WHICHIN TURN MIGHT TURN LOADS OF YOUR STUDENTS DEAF IN THE LONG RUN,WHICH MAY AFFECT THEM AND YOU AS WELL.SUDDENLY THEY MIGHT THINK "GOD!I USED THE LESSONS AND IMPROVED MY ENGLISH,BUT AS PER THE INSTRUCTIONS OF EFFORTLESS SITE I HAVE BEEN USING AN MP3 PLAYER AND NOW I LOSTED MY HEARING!!-A SUDDEN LOATHE!!,SUBCONSCIOUSLY!!

SO,AS YOUR WELL-WISHER I WOULD LIKE OR REQUEST YOU TO GO THROUGH THROUGH THE FOLLOWING LINKS ABOUT HEARING LOSS AND DECIDE FOR YOURSELF!!

http://media.www.thedmonline.com/media/storage/paper876/news/2006/01/24/News/Ipod-Use.Could.Affect.Hearing-1594551.shtml



http://www.news.com/Can-MP3-players-cause-hearing-loss/2100-1041_3-5851410.html



http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/5311868.stm



http://www.healthyhearing.com/hearing_library/article_content.asp?article_id=756

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/06/health/06real.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1200168017-y6hfWftNEEoHbVJonz3Bsw&oref=slogin


this is the FAQ page:
http://www.effortlessenglishclub.com/faq.html


kind regards
Anandbabu.

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